The Boston Celtics revamped their lineup configuration with some bold trades at the start of the offseason and ended the season with another blockbuster deal to solidify by far the strongest starting lineup in the NBA.
Boston was not only the best team in the NBA all season, but one of the most statistically dominant teams in league history. Falling short of a championship was always going to be disappointing for the Celtics, but now they're four wins away from their 18th championship. The Celtics enter the 2024 NBA Finals as heavy favorites against the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks may have the biggest stars on the court, but Boston has six of the best eight or nine players in the series.
The Celtics are heading to the NBA Finals in 2022 and appear to be in at least the conference finals every season. After acquiring Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday in trades during the offseason, Boston finally has the pieces in place to compete for a championship, led by stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Here are three reasons why the Celtics are destined to win the NBA Finals in 2024.
1. The Celtics have the best five-man lineup in the NBA.
The Celtics dominated opponents on both ends of the court. Boston was first in offensive rating, second in defensive rating and first in net rating. Trading Marcus Smart for Porzinis earlier in the offseason solidified the Celtics as a five-out team that could threaten defenses from all over the court. The late offseason addition of Jrue Holiday in the aftermath of Milwaukee's acquisition of Damian Lillard gave Boston the solid defense and offensive connector they needed to establish themselves as the best team in the league.
According to Cleaning the Glass, Boston's starters had 1,293 possessions this season and outscored opponents by 12 points per 100 possessions. Milwaukee and Denver each had slightly better scoring margins, but no team could match the way Boston's starters carried them to victory. The Celtics' 64 wins were the most in the NBA and they led the Eastern Conference by 14. Even if they had a slightly easier playoff run, no one can say the Celtics were underpowered heading into the NBA Finals. They dominated the entire season.
2. The Celtics can dominate opponents with 3-point shots.
The Celtics specialize in taking a ton of 3-pointers, which is understandable considering the number of great shooters in their lineup. Boston made 47.1% of their 3-pointers this season, which was best in the league. They made 38.8% of their 3-pointers from beyond the arc, which was second in the league. Boston made 1,351 3-pointers this season, which was 140 more than the next-best team, the Golden State Warriors.
When the Celtics hit a string of threes, it feels like a knockout punch that no team can come back from. All five Boston starters are making at least 35% of their three-pointers, which is very impressive given the sheer volume. Even the Celtics reserves (a glaring weakness of the team) are full of players who can spread the floor and take open three-pointers. Al Horford is making 42% of his threes this year, Sam Hauser is making 42.4% of his threes, and Payton Pritchard is hitting 38.5% of his long passes.
The Celtics have a lot of great drivers and passers and can easily create three-pointers, and if they get on a roll and make them, the game will be over in a flash.
3. The Celtics have no defensive weaknesses.
The NBA playoffs are often a game of picking the worst defender, forcing the other player to set a screen for the star player, and then letting that star player do his job. Good luck with that game against the Celtics. Boston starts four great ball-controlling defenders, plus Porzingis, a very good rim protector, guards the backline.
Luka Doncic will be Boston's toughest opponent yet, but no team in the league is better prepared to deal with him. Doncic said the toughest defender he's ever faced is Jrue Holiday. The Celtics can switch any screen with Tatum at center for Dallas. Derrick White is great at shooting in the gaps and helping out, and Jaylen Brown is great at keeping guys in front. Boston's lineup has no defensive weaknesses.
